28 August 2009

The Queensland Orchestra, in association with Australian Centre of Chinese Culture & Arts (ACCCA), presents a unique celebration programme of Chinese and Western compositions to mark the beginning of the 2009 Moon Festival. Hear the outstanding violinist Li Chuanyun perform He Zhanhao & Chen Gang Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto, incomparable piano virtuoso Sun Yingdi playing Liszt’s demandingly virtuosic Piano Concerto No.1, and brilliant young conductor Perry So directing Beethoven’s Overture to Leonora No.3 and music by leading Chinese composers, including Chen Qigang and Chen Yi.Also included in the concert is work by Brisbane based composer Christopher Andrews. His music is reminiscent of Vaughan Williams and Debussy and creates an impression of rolling waves. The work celebrates the local landscape, and contributes to The Queensland Orchestra's celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the State of Queensland and fits perfectly into the context of this Chinese/Western program.East Meets West is a rare opportunity to hear two of the most exciting young virtuosi on the international concert circuit and compositions by some of the most important contemporary Chinese composers. The concert will also feature the outstanding young Hong Kong based conductor Perry So.

Star conductor Perry So also conducts The Queensland Orchestra in works by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Johann Strauss, the Australian premiere of Wu Xing (5 Elements) by composer Chen Qigang and Lowlands, A Tribute to Moreton Bay by Queensland composer Christopher Andrews.

Concert Artists:

The Queensland Orchestra presents a Moon Festival Celebration Concert featuring two international award winning soloists and the outstanding young Hong Kong based conductor Perry So

Conductor – Perry So (born 1982) – First Prize Prokofiev Conducting Competition. One of the most exciting conductors of his generation, Perry So has been awarded a residency as a Dudamel Conducting Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Presently he is Assistant Conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Mr So works regularly with many American, German and Russian orchestras and directs the Huangshan International Music Festival

Pianist - Yingdi Sun (born 1980) First Prize winner of the International Franz Liszt CompetitionStudent of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Yingdi Sun has won many competitions and played with many leading international orchestras, including Netherlands Radio Symphony, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Czech National Symphony Orchestra.“The most inspired musician, his recital was distinguished by colour and elegance” De Volkskrant“The only pianist who flawlessly performed Liszt’s gruelling octave jumps and maintained the tension in both pieces to the very end” De Telegraaf“Awarded First Prize… Understandable with Sun’s flawless precision, clear and sparkling performances and his ability to communicate actively with the orchestra” Utrechts Nieuwsblad“His playing betrays a phenomenal degree of knowledge of the piano as an instrument” De Gelderlander“Sun Yingdi’s fingers move across the keyboard faster than the eye can follow, his left hand has the accuracy of a karate blow… his technique is totally flawless” De Stentor

Violinist – Li Chuanyun – One of the foremost violinists of his generation, winner of prizes since the age of 5, including youngest ever First Prize Winner of the Wieniawski International Youth Competition aged 11 by the unanimous vote of 20 judges, Li has studied at Julliard with Dorothy DeLay and Itzhak Perlman. Mr Li performs on a Guadagnini violin c.1784 on extended loan from the Stradivarius Society. Performances to date with many orchestras including Rotterdam Philharmonic, Detroit Symphony, Colorado Festival, Singapore Symphony, Tokyo City Philharmonic, under the baton of Okku Kamu, Valery Gergiev, Xincao Li, Lan Shui, Neeme Jaarvi“If China wants to have a great violinist, they have one… he has a fantastic capability, he has temperament, he is intuitive, he’s strong, he’s got all the requisites” Ruggiero Ricci – legendary violinist“A massive talent with astonishing dynamic and expressive range” The Daily Camera. “A first-rate violinist…the chance to hear Mr Li’s violin playing made the evening all worthwhile” The New York Times